Why Students Multitask: Toward a Comprehensive Understanding

Abstract

Students' multitasking with digital devices has become pervasive both inside and outside classrooms, yet our understanding as to the reasons behind it is far from adequate. This review article synthesizes recent research work focusing on the drivers for multitasking with digital devices within learning settings. It categorizes the main driving forces influencing students' multitasking into internal forces (individual characteristics) and three types of external forces (social, teaching/learning, and technological), on the basis of which a model of student multitasking is constructed. This paper seeks to provide researchers and practitioners a comprehensive understanding of the complex driving forces behind students' multitasking behaviors and provide recommendations on how to ward off the adverse influence of technologies on the part of students.